FAST DOWNLOAD
As the women’s season in Europe enters the ‘business end’ and the Champions League knockout rounds begin, talk of who could win this year’s individual accolades is set to intensify, and there is no bigger prize than the Ballon d’Or.
Aitana Bonmati won the crown last year, following back-to-back victories for her Spain and Barcelona team-mate, Alexia Putellas. The chances of another Spaniard or another Barca star getting their hands on the famous accolade feels high again this time around, with La Roja favourites for this summer’s Olympics and Barca the same for the Champions League.
But there are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to the Ballon d’Or Feminin – and all individual awards in the women’s game, even. With the sport still growing in coverage and recognition, some who wholly deserve to be nominated can often be overlooked if they aren’t a well-known name, and that makes performances on the biggest of stages even more important.
With the season in the United States only just getting underway and the Olympics sure play a big role later this year, this list is likely to change plenty throughout 2024, but who is in the running for the Ballon d’Or Femenin right now? GOAL takes a look at the contenders…
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
In 2023-24: 16 goals, six assists.
With Manchester City not in Europe this year and having suffered two cup exits in quick succession in March, Shaw’s case for the Ballon d’Or hangs almost entirely on whether or not City win the Women’s Super League.
The Jamaica star’s goals have put them in a great position to end an eight-year wait for a second league title, though, with her currently leading the race for the Golden Boot. If she can fire City to success, it’d be a surprise to see her omitted from the nominees.
Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2023-24: 18 goals, 13 assists.
Once again, a league title looks out of reach for Paris Saint-Germain this year, but that hasn’t stopped Chawinga from being one of the best players in the French league this season, if not the best.
The Malawi international has 13 goals and nine assists from just 15 appearances so far, her 22 direct goal contributions some eight clear of anyone else in the division.
PSG are at least still in the Champions League as the quarter-finals prepare to get underway, and they scraped into the Coupe de France final by the skin of their teeth, too, with them now strong favourites against Fleury later this year.
Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich)
In 2023-24: 15 goals, four assists.
Players in Germany have struggled for success in these individual accolades over the last few years, and that will be difficult to change in 2024 after both Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg suffered surprise early exits in the Champions League.
However, Schuller’s goals secured Germany’s place at this summer’s Olympics, a tournament she’ll hope to star in. Her efforts are helping to keep Bayern on track when it comes to retaining their Bundesliga title, too, with cup success also still on the cards.
Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea)
In 2023-24: Seven goals, one assist.
Cuthbert’s contributions at Chelsea can often go under the radar, which is no surprise given the attacking talent in the squad, but if the Blues go on to enjoy a strong, trophy-laden end to the season, then she could finally earn some of the recognition she deserves.
The Scot has skippered her side for large parts of this season, in the absence of regular captain Millie Bright, and she’s chipped in with some important goals, too, despite operating in a deeper role nowadays.
Ona Batlle (Barcelona)
In 2023-24: Four goals, 13 assists, 23 clean sheets. Won Supercopa de Espana and Nations League.
Though she did pick up some accolades during her time in England, Batlle is still waiting for big individual recognition, but this could be the year she gets it. After swapping Manchester United for Barcelona last summer, she is part of a side competing for the biggest honours, while she’s helped Spain become the team to beat in the international game, too.
There’s no more complete full-back on the planet than the 24-year-old, and if she can prove that in the latter stages of the Champions League and at the Olympics, she could put herself on the radar of the voters.
Selma Bacha (Lyon)
In 2023-24: One goal, 14 assists, 12 clean sheets. Won Trophee des Championnes.
Nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2022, Bacha’s wicked left foot has helped her rack up plenty of assists so far this season and could put her on the list for the 2024 accolade, too.
The 23-year-old has been one of Lyon’s stand-out performers throughout this campaign, and she’ll certainly catch the eye if she continues that form throughout the business end of the season, and into France’s home Olympics this summer.
Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
In 2023-24: 10 goals, two assists. Won Trophee des Championnes and the Gold Cup.
The lone American on this list, Lindsey Horan came up with some big performances during the Gold Cup at the start of this year, and the United States women’s national team claimed that title courtesy of her goal in the final.
As the year progresses and the NWSL gets underway, Horan may be joined or even usurped by some fellow USWNT stars, but she’s had a good start to 2024, is a very recognisable name in the game and is in contention for plenty of honours with Lyon in France.
Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona)
In 2023-24: 18 goals, 14 assists. Won Supercopa de Espana and Nations League.
A player whose influence at Barca seems to grow each year, Mariona has regularly caught the eye with her performances for the European champions this season, and that looks unlikely to stop as the Catalans eye up a quadruple over the next few months.
Since returning to the fold with Spain she has shone, too, and there was arguably no better performer in the Nations League final that La Roja triumphed in back in February. With the Olympics also to come, could this be the year that one of the most underrated players in the game finally gets her flowers?
Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon)
In 2023-24: 12 goals, 11 assists. Won Trophee des Championnes.
Diani has been among the world’s best players for some time, but PSG’s role as the perennial bridesmaid in French women’s football meant she struggled for recognition. However, a summer switch to Lyon brought to an end a six-season stay in the capital and has increased her chances of trophies.
She might not boast the same goal return as last year’s Golden Boot-winning tally, but that came as a centre forward with PSG. At Lyon, Diani is back in her favoured wide role, and not only is she racking up the assists domestically, she’s also in the hunt for the top-scorer award in the Champions League.
Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
In 2023-24: Eight goals, six assists. Won Supercopa de Espana.
Guijarro is not a player who gets all the recognition she deserves, with her role as a deep-lying midfielder no doubt playing its part. It’s always going to be hard to grab the headlines from that position ahead of Barca’s attacking talents.
However, she was among the nominees for last year’s Ballon d’Or and finished a respectable eighth. While her two-goal performance in the Champions League final no doubt played its part there, it was still encouraging given Guijarro didn’t play for Spain at the World Cup.
She’s having another stellar season this time around and hopefully that results in more individual recognition.
Lauren James (Chelsea)
In 2023-24: 16 goals, six assists.
Chelsea have been hit by some big injuries this season, most notably to Sam Kerr, last year’s Ballon d’Or runner-up, who suffered an ACL injury at the turn of the year. Even more responsibility has fallen onto the shoulders of James, then, whose contributions are helping the Blues to continue to battle on four fronts.
James is a strong contender for this season’s Golden Boot in the Women’s Super League and she’ll be Chelsea’s main danger woman for the latter stages of the Champions League, too.
Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)
In 2023-24: 25 goals, four assists. Won Trophee des Championnes.
Hegerberg is certainly benefitting from Diani’s arrival in Lyon, with four of her goals so far this season assisted by the Frenchwoman. She’s scored plenty from her own good work too, though, boasting 20 in all competitions at this moment.
It’s put the Norwegian in the running for both the Golden Boot in France and in the Champions League, and if those goals help fire Lyon to trophies over the next couple of months, it could put her in contention for another Ballon d’Or, to go with the one she collected in 2018.
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
In 2023-24: 26 goals, seven assists. Won Supercopa de Espana and Nations League.
Last summer’s World Cup catapulted Paralluelo into the limelight, securing her a third-placed finish in the running for the Ballon d’Or, and she is having an even better season with Barca this time around as she gears up for the Olympics.
The 20-year-old has already surpassed her goal tally from 2022-23 and is second in the running for the Golden Boot in Spain. She’s right in the race for that accolade in the Champions League, too, level with three other players on five goals as things stand.
Throw in her role with Spain, with whom she’s already won the Nations League this year, and Paralluelo could be a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
In 2023-24: 19 goals, 13 assists. Won Supercopa de Espana and Nations League.
It’s been another superb season so far for Bonmati, winner of this accolade last year. Her numbers might not be at the level as some of her team-mates, but that doesn’t tell the full story of one of the most influential players in this Barca team, if not the most influential player.
Bonmati’s contributions for Spain are only strengthening her case to retain the award, too. The midfielder starred in La Roja’s Nations League triumph and you wouldn’t bet against her shining at this summer’s Olympics either, with the world champions favourites to win the gold medal.
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
In 2023-24: 25 goals, 23 assists. Won Supercopa de Espana.
Why Graham Hansen hasn’t been nominated for any Ballon d’Or to date remains one of women’s football’s biggest mysteries, but there is surely no way that she can be ignored this year.
There has been no better player in Europe throughout the 2023-24 season than the Norwegian, who has racked up 15 goals and 13 assists in just 17 league games. She also has four of each in her five Champions League appearances so far this campaign, one which Barca will surely end with a selection of silverware.
